Yeah, I think the sympathy factor will be in effect for the Cavs this game... the foul calls will flip flop in their favor.
Also think the 3 point shooting efficiency will drop significantly on the road.
Look for the Brons (er Cavs) to go inside much more... that's what got them back in the game last time.
If the Pistons are serious about winning at the Q they need to post Sheed and Chauncey often... and take advantage of the defensive drop off from Hughes not playing.

As road warriors our most significant weakness has been a tendancy to become very perimeter oriented. We usually don't shake that urge until the score nececitates otherwise.

Our high shooting % has helped diminish the Cavs full court thrusts to the basket. Being on the road has also helped reduce the Cavs bench contribution. Lastly, being home has gotten us more friendly whistle toots.

[strike]Lambs[/strike] Lemonpens Lowdown:
1- control the boards, to slow the Cav transition game
2- execute well on O, making the Cavs take the ball out of the hoop.
3- avoid foul trouble. Labron will be more aggressive at home

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Good work LP. I think #2 is the most important. The best way to shut down a transition offense oriented team is to make hoops (execute), limit turns, and use the clock to allow the bigs offensive rebounding position.

Foul trouble will probably be inevitable, the Pistons have to stay aggressive and not get too far behind, because the refs don't help teams that are far behind and doing nothing to help themselves. Particularly since they are playing "THE KING".

The coaches hinted at some new scheming on defense after Game 2. I will be watching to see what they roll out.

Ho-hum. More Game 3 absenteeism by the boys. Awful tough to win when you get 9 bench points. Mo Evans was so horrible that he should be dismissed from the team immediately. Awful tough to win when you play one-quarter of the game. Two things I'm amazed by: LeBron is allowed to drive down the lane without any harm. No way the '88-'90 teams would have allowed this. Those teams were prideful and 'ol LeBron would have ended up on his azz more than once. I'm also amazed by the fourth-quarter collapse. Isn't that when experience takes over?

Didn't watch the game, but it looks like Chauncey started ballhogging, Sheed didn't show up, and Tayshaun was in "Princess" mode. Delk and Hunter were invisible, Dice picked up more fouls instead of playing defense, and Ben's BPG average for the playoffs has dipped to 1.2.

And how about that game from Mo Evans? As I said, I didn't watch the game - but unless I'm wrong, and I don't think I am, he made his usual, reliable, consistent contribution and Flip still managed to find time to play him in the 4th quarter.

On the bright side, Rip shot a respectable percentage, so hopefully his ankle's doing better.

Either way, this team is like clockwork. They should win Game 4 by 10-15, and close out the series in 5 now.

Tough loss. We were so close. Lebron James will get all the credit for this win but if it wasn't for his teammates showing up the first 3 and a 1/2 quarters he never would have had the chance to win this game.

It is just one loss. We will rebound. Chauncey started off really slow. He needs to start better.

Ho-hum. More Game 3 absenteeism by the boys. Awful tough to win when you get 9 bench points. Mo Evans was so horrible that he should be dismissed from the team immediately. Awful tough to win when you play one-quarter of the game. Two things I'm amazed by: LeBron is allowed to drive down the lane without any harm. No way the '88-'90 teams would have allowed this. Those teams were prideful and 'ol LeBron would have ended up on his azz more than once. I'm also amazed by the fourth-quarter collapse. Isn't that when experience takes over?

Well, the league'll love this. LeBron for at least two more games.

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You said it.Letting LeBron's non-scoring stats and his crew keep the game close and then he explodes in the end,you could see it coming the way we played.Awful offensively on our part and some crap fouls by the refs didn't help either.Oh well looks like we will witness a game 5 after all.Refocus and drop em in 5 just like the Bucks.

I expect the Cleveland fans to be into this game. 13 years since they made some noise in the post season is a long time.

Look for Lebron to be very agressive in this game, thus putting pressure on the refs in the "Q". I don`t want to keep harping on this conspiracy thing but the NBA and TV networks would prefer a 6-7 game series as opposed to a sweep or 5 game series.

So don`t be suprised if we see some freaky calls in this one to assure at least a 5 game series! I picked Detroit in 5 games and i am sticking to my prediction. I see the classic Piston let down in this one.

Ben yawning on the sidelines, Sheed staring into space, and Rip committing 5 or more TO, CB launching up 3`s like he is at All Star Weekend, and Tay playing matador defense on the so-called King.

This will be the Pistons MO throughout the playoffs - take the first 2 then have a minor let down, before regaining their focus.

We may even see Delfino play in this one, and have a good game!!!!!

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Ok, I am going to watch the game now, didn`t see it live. How close was I to my prediction? I know the Pistons loss, but did they seem as disinterested as I said?

Another crap game. Everyone will run around pointing fingers, Sheed, Mo, Flip whatever.

Bottom line, the Pistons as a whole did not bring a great effort, the only exception is perhaps Rip and that cost them down the stretch when they got nailed on a lot of BS calls. If they were up by 10 to start the 4th, they may have weathered it. Instead, they kept handing Cleveland an opportunity to win the game from the get go, and finally, the Cavs figured out that the game was there for the taking.

The bench has totally disappeared. Unleash the hounds. They need a man hunt for Hunter, Delk and Evans.

And how about that game from Mo Evans? As I said, I didn't watch the game - but unless I'm wrong, and I don't think I am, he made his usual, reliable, consistent contribution and Flip still managed to find time to play him in the 4th quarter.

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Sarcasm right? Even if you look at the box score he was 0-2, with 1 TO, and a foul. If you watched the game, he had one of the most embarrassing sequences I've seen from a Piston in a long time. He gets the ball in his favorite spot, goes to shoot the 3, but Lebron closes in on him. Evans then looks to pass, can't find anyone, puts the ball on the floor, loses his dribble, manages to get it back, shot clock winding down, shoots, and is flat out rejected.

And then things get worse. Evans (and Flip for even putting him on Lebron) single handedly let Cleveland back in the game. Worst coaching job, ever.

I mean serious what was Flip's thought process. I need somebody to guard Lebron while Tay rests, Delfino has proven he can guard Lebron, but Evans can hit that wide open jumper when no one covers him. That's it, Evans.

Wake up Flip, this is the playoffs, not counting garbage time, Evans aint getting anymore wide open jumpers.

My point is that the bench is missing. If they were effective in Game 2, they might have got more run in game 3. Flip is gunna pull the plug on the bench if they dont come in and produce.

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Well, Flip can either pull the plug outright or try some different substitution patterns/combinations. I hate to compliment Arroyo, but occasionally he brought some fire to this team with his energy in last year's playoffs. Nobody like that on the current team has emerged. This team is so business-like out there that sometimes it needs a fire lit under its azz. I feel bad for Delfino. I think the guy made some strides this year and he gets buried under a whole lotta horse-MO-nure.